UPDATE: Former NPP Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey To be Laid To Rest On April 22

Post by Peace Ezebuiro

The former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, the late Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, will be laid to rest on Friday, April 22, 2016.

This was disclosed by Nii Lante Otanka II, Acting LanteDjan We Mantse in a courtesy visit to the 2016 presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at his Nima residence on Monday, April 4, 2016. NiiLanteOtanka II, was accompanied by members of the family of the late Chairman, including his brothers, Afadi and NiiLantey.

According to Nii Lante Otanka II, the body of the late Chairman will be brought to Ghana, from the United Kingdom, on Tuesday, April 12.

“The first part of the funeral will be a pre-burial service on April 21, 2016 at the Accra Ridge Church, from 6pm to 10pm. This will be a Celebration of his Life, and in accordance with his wishes, the attire will be ‘Joyful Colours’” he said.

“The second part will be a Burial, Funeral and Thanksgiving Service on April 22, 2016, at the forecourt of the State House, and again, in accordance with his wishes, the attire will be white,” he added.

He also said that the body of the late NPP Chairman will be laid to rest at a private funeral ceremony.

Nana Akufo-Addo, on behalf of all those present with him at the time of the visit which include the acting National Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay, the National Treasurer of the party, Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah, his brother, Edward, and wife, Rebecca, thanked the family of the late NPP Chairman for the honour accorded them by the visit and assured them of his and the party’s support for the funeral.

Obetsebi-Lamptey’s Death

The former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jacob Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey is dead. According to reports, Jake, as he was fondly called died in the early hours of Sunday, March 20 in a London hospital at the age of 70. Sources within the party confirmed the news to citifmonline.com.

It was also gathered that Bryn Acheamong, a former aide to Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey posted on his Facebook wall: “Ghana has lost one fine statesman. RIP.”

There were social media speculations in December 2015 that Mr. Lamptey had died, but he was alive, receiving treatment from an ailment in South Africa.

About Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey’s Political Life

Jake held several ministerial posts during the Kufuor administration, including Minister of Information, Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital, Foreign Affairs and Diasporan Relations as well Chief of Staff.

Obetsebi-Lamptey served as Ghana’s Minister of Information from 2001 to 2002. He was the Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital (2002–2005). Then, from 2005 to July 2007, Obetsebi-Lamptey served as Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations during President John Kufuor’s tenure.

He was the National Campaign Manager of the victorious New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2000 Presidential elections, which saw the first constitutional (civilian-to-civilian) transition of power. He resigned his posts in July 2007 to campaign for the NPP nomination for the 2008 Presidential elections.

As a professional communicator, he was given the task of working on the identity of the party. He worked with Dan Quaye, an artist, to design the NPP flag, colours, symbols and other visual identity items.

It was in February 2010 that he became the National Chairman of the NPP.

Obetsebi-Lampteywho has maintained a quiet lifestyle since after leaving politics was also the Plenary Speaker at the World Summit on AIDS, London, and Second International Symposium on the disease in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He was a past president of the Advertising Association of Ghana, and has several publications to his credit, covering topics from family planning to AIDS prevention in Africa.